Delaware Senate Race: A Kamikaze Republican and the Tea Party

Will the Tea Party Take Down Another Establishment Candidate?

By JONATHAN KARL and GREGORY SIMMONS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2010

In Tuesday's Delaware primary, the tea party movement may inflict its
most devastating wound yet to the Republican establishment.

With an assist from Sarah Palin, tea party activists in Delaware are
trying to defeat the Republican candidate with the best chance to win
Joe Biden's old Senate seat and nominate instead a candidate Republican
leaders say has no chance of winning the general election in November.

Rep. Mike Castle is considered a slam dunk to capture Joe Biden's old
Senate seat. Castle is a pro-abortion rights, pro-gun control
Republican who often works with Democrats. Those traits have helped
make him the most popular Republican in a state that leans heavily
Democratic; Castle has twice been elected governor and was elected as
Delaware's sole representative in the House nine times.

But Castle's moderate politics have enraged tea party activists and given Christine O'Donnell an opening.

"The Republican Party has lost its way," O'Donnell said. "They get
behind candidates like my opponent who don't even support the Republican
platform, who continue to support the Democrats' agenda,
lock-step-and-barrel."

Castle hasn't had a seriously contested primary since 1992. He said he's confident this time, but acknowledges he could go down.

"This one's been difficult, not only because I have an opponent with
whom I disagree adamantly on a number of issues but is also being funded
by the Tea Party Express people, which is totally an out of state
circumstance," Castle said.

The group Tea Party Express, which also supported the primary campaigns
of Sharron Angle in Nevada and Joe Miller in Alaska, said it will spend
nearly $200,000 boosting O'Donnell's primary challenge.

This one, however, may be the most bitterly divisive Republican primary
yet. Republican leaders say an O'Donnell victory would destroy the
state party and pretty much ruin any GOP chances of capturing Biden's
old seat.

"I have no doubt if she by some miracle became the nominee she would
lose the seat by unprecedented numbers," Delaware Republican Party
chairman Tom Ross said.

O'Donnell, who has also been endorsed by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and
the NRA, called that "Republican cannibalism," which she said is an
indication of just how out of touch with their voters and desperate main
stream Republicans have become.

The Delaware Republican party has been issuing almost daily press releases attacking O'Donnell.

One recent release highlighted a Rasmussen poll showing Castle carrying a
double-digit lead over Democrat Chris Coons in the general Senate race,
48 percent to 37 percent. When Coons and O'Donnell are matched up,
Coons leads O'Donnell by a 47 percent to 36 percent margin.

O'Donnell said she remains confident that voters see her as the real Republican choice.

"There's a tidal wave coming here in Delaware and my campaign is riding it," she said. "My opponent is drowning in it."

Democrats, meanwhile, are salivating at the possibility of an O'Donnell
victory Tuesday because if she wins, Democrats are suddenly favored in
Delaware. A Democratic victory in Delaware would make it virtually
impossible for Republicans to capture a majority in the Senate.

Whatever happens in Delaware, tea party Senate candidates have already
toppled the choices of the Republican establishment in six states this
year.

Hooray, Delaware GOP. I bet we can't wait to have another Collins/Snowe in the Senate. But at least Castle would have that all-important (R) next to his name, right?

There's only one way to know whether she can win the general or not: She has to be on the ticket first. If she earns the right then she earns the right. It seems to be a common theme (ie MSM tactic) that any tea party candidate immediately gets spammed with the branding of "unable to win the GE". I'm sure that's true in many cases but I'm sure that there are RINO's that are equally un-electable. Graham would get demolished in my state had he been on the ballot in 2010 instead of 2012...

The question to ask of those who say that you should vote for the best candidate but just not this time... If not now then when? Seems that it's never the right time yet according to many heavily into the Grand Ol' Party...

Originally Posted By 74HC:The RINO Republican has a "F" rating from the NRA. Do ARFCOM members need to know much more?

Gilibrand had an A rating from the NRA and is now endorsed by the Brady Campaign. Guess the NRA ratings might not be all you think they are.

Didn't the NRA endorse Harry Reid also, or did they pull that back?

No, they did not endorse him for this election. They really wanted to after getting that $61 million shooting complex, but apparently enough people threatened to send in their membership card that the leadership decided against it, citing his confirmation vote for Kagan(yet they didn't count confirmation votes for the last SCOTUS appointment).

Originally post by 2theLeft: If done right, there is no taste, because it goes right down the throat..

Originally Posted By Dave_A:
The question is, can the TEA Party lady win the general election?

If yes, then I hope she gets there...

If no, time to hold the nose and vote for Castle.

Why?

Because we need to take back the Senate, and that means that if there's a Dem state that can be 'turned red' by electing a RINO, it needs to be done...

FAILURE TO DO THIS MEANS CHUCKY-SCHUMER AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

uh pro gun control republican who sides with dems on a majority of issues means its still a loss

Coyote with 40 people crammed into a minivan gets into a chase with DPS, Paco over estimates his driving abilities and *whmmo!* the Astrovan of Immigration becomes a Pinata of Pain, hurling broken bodies like so many tasty pieces of cheap candy...

Originally Posted By guntrk:You would be better off voting Tea Party, the RINO Castle would make a better Democrat than Chuck Shumer in my opinion.

He will be a complete sell out, and monkey wrench any GOP Agenda to show his so-called Bi-partisanship with the Democrats.

Bad juju if he is elected.

There won't be a 'GOP Agenda' if the GOP doesn't get enough seats to take over...

If that's the case, and that's what the people decide, then let Chucky own the disaster he creates. Sooner or later the depths that these buffoons are driving us to will be clear to even the dimmest GOP sycophant.The GOP is NOT representing the interests of conservatives in this country. I will not support Democrat lite. A GOP win will simply drag out our country's fall longer. Until they learn that their behavior will not be tolerated nothing will change.

Originally Posted By guntrk:You would be better off voting Tea Party, the RINO Castle would make a better Democrat than Chuck Shumer in my opinion.

He will be a complete sell out, and monkey wrench any GOP Agenda to show his so-called Bi-partisanship with the Democrats.

Bad juju if he is elected.

There won't be a 'GOP Agenda' if the GOP doesn't get enough seats to take over...

If that's the case, and that's what the people decide, then let Chucky own the disaster he creates. Sooner or later the depths that these buffoons are driving us to will be clear to even the dimmest GOP sycophant.The GOP is NOT representing the interests of conservatives in this country. I will not support Democrat lite. A GOP win will simply drag out our country's fall longer. Until they learn that their behavior will not be tolerated nothing will change.

I hope she kicks Castle's ass so hard he strokes out.

‘There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil.’ John Galt.

Originally Posted By Dave_A:The question is, can the TEA Party lady win the general election?

If yes, then I hope she gets there...

If no, time to hold the nose and vote for Castle.

Why?

Because we need to take back the Senate, and that means that if there's a Dem state that can be 'turned red' by electing a RINO, it needs to be done...

FAILURE TO DO THIS MEANS CHUCKY-SCHUMER AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

In many ways I would rather have a democrat in a seat than a RINO. If it is a RINO then the democrats can claim to be reaching across the isle while they shove their crap down our throats.

Some of us believe a brand name means something. Why buy a Rolls Royce with a Mopar drivetrain? If it votes like a Dem then let it have a Dem badge on the hood and let the Dems reap the whirlwind when it all goes to shit. It's like trying to convince a junkie to detox before they hit rock bottom. They have to understand they are the cause of the problem before the issue will be resolved. If Schumer gets the nod it will suck out loud but it will be their high water mark. If a rino gets the nod then its a bipartisan issue. Let the dems own the shit pile.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

How many times have we seen the Liberals claim bipartisanship when they get Snowe, Collins, or Graham on their side? You don't hear thing one about Kennedy when No Child Left Behind is criticized. They get to have their cake and eat it, too.

RINOs are sabotaging the GOP and they need to be run out of town on a rail.

Originally Posted By HairOfTheDog:
Everytime RINOs vote with Democrats, they give plausible deniability when SHTF.

How many times have we seen the Liberals claim bipartisanship when they get Snowe, Collins, or Graham on their side? You don't hear thing one about Kennedy when No Child Left Behind is criticized. They get to have their cake and eat it, too.

RINOs are sabotaging the GOP and they need to be run out of town on a rail.

Because almost everyone harping on NCLB is a Democrat.

Originally Posted by N1Rampage: I'd pay them to abort and give them chauffeur service to the clinics if I could. I'm not pro-choice. I'm pro-abortion.

Originally Posted By Dave_A:
The question is, can the TEA Party lady win the general election?

If yes, then I hope she gets there...

If no, time to hold the nose and vote for Castle.

Why?

Because we need to take back the Senate, and that means that if there's a Dem state that can be 'turned red' by electing a RINO, it needs to be done...

FAILURE TO DO THIS MEANS CHUCKY-SCHUMER AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

uh pro gun control republican who sides with dems on a majority of issues means its still a loss

I do not like or agree with Dave_A's strategy, but there is wisdom behind it. The rationale is that even if this person sucks, we need as many R's as possible to get a republican majority leader. And that is very important.

I still hate the fact I have to vote for McStain AGAIN.

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice... and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." -Barry Goldwater

Originally Posted By Dave_A:The question is, can the TEA Party lady win the general election?

If yes, then I hope she gets there...

If no, time to hold the nose and vote for Castle.

Why?

Because we need to take back the Senate, and that means that if there's a Dem state that can be 'turned red' by electing a RINO, it needs to be done...

FAILURE TO DO THIS MEANS CHUCKY-SCHUMER AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

Your credibility in this matter is now zero. You and others have consistently screamed "The time to vote on principle is in the primary!"

Well here's the primary. Still mean it? Did you ever mean it?

NO FUCKING SHIT. Let's see how he crawdads out of this.

Edited to add: Dave, your attempted tactical withdrawal is an utter failure. Believe it or not, there are some principles that are black and white. As bad as RINOs are, the people who vote for them in the primaries are far worse. You should change you screen name to NoCredibility_A.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Originally Posted By Dave_A:The question is, can the TEA Party lady win the general election?

If yes, then I hope she gets there...

If no, time to hold the nose and vote for Castle.

Why?

Because we need to take back the Senate, and that means that if there's a Dem state that can be 'turned red' by electing a RINO, it needs to be done...

FAILURE TO DO THIS MEANS CHUCKY-SCHUMER AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!

uh pro gun control republican who sides with dems on a majority of issues means its still a loss

I do not like or agree with Dave_A's strategy, but there is wisdom behind it. The rationale is that even if this person sucks, we need as many R's as possible to get a republican majority leader. And that is very important.

I still hate the fact I have to vote for McStain AGAIN.

I can understand holding your nose in the general election, but did you have to vote for McCain in the primary?

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I guess it depends on who "WE" is. If "we" = conservatives, we gain absolutely nothing. If "we" = middle-of-the-road wishy-washy people, then I suppose that's a "win" if the guy actually wins the general election.

Originally Posted By raven:Castle voted to impeach George Bush in 2008. He's no Republican, even if his opponent O'Donnell is flawed she she can't be worse than him.

What is O'Donnells NRA rating ???

What was Gilibrand's NRA rating?

That is a good point.

Plus, I can understand those members who don't want a democrat to win even if it means we get a RINO.

They are so fed up with the commies that they are deathly afraid of having them retain the majority. I can understand that.

But, Castle is so liberal, I wonder if he would support the causes we believe in? I say he probably won't vote to repeal healthcare and will remain a rabid anti-gunner. So, what the heck, go for the Tea Party candidate and let the chips fall where they may.

The DE GOP is fucking useless. As I understand it, they're not even running a candidate against that candyassed monkeyfucker Beau Biden for DE Attorney General. The state definitely tilts to the liberal/democrat side. Who was the last conservative senator: Bill Roth? (And yes, I know even Roth wasn't good on guns)